Easy
Loop Trails near Crystal Lake
18 routes near Crystal Lake qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 4.1 km and 58 m (190 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 34.3 km.
That is 46 percent of the 39 routes we map near Crystal Lake. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 4.1 km against 2.9 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 58 m (190 ft) on average versus 33 m (108 ft) across the wider area.
Circular routes: park once, finish where you started, and never walk the same section twice. The mix is broad: 16 are rated easy and 1 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.
Trails
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.3 km / 0.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 16 min
- Alpine meadow
Easy
Easy
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 11.8 km / 7.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 28 min
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.7 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 14 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr
Easy
Expert
Wisconsin · United States
- Distance
- 34.3 km / 21.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 755 m
- Typical duration
- 8 hr 52 min
- Lake
- Coastal
Easy
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.4 km / 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 18 min
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
The shortlist, side by side
The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake WalkIllinois | 1.3 km | flat | 16 min | Easy | April to October |
| Prairie View TrailIllinois | 1.3 km | 7 m | 16 min | Easy | April to October |
| Fen View TrailIllinois | 1.2 km | 7 m | 16 min | Easy | April to October |
| Oak View TrailIllinois | 1.6 km | flat | 20 min | Easy | April to October |
| Red Paved LoopIllinois | 11.8 km | 7 m | 2 hr 28 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Tamarack View TrailIllinois | 4.7 km | 14 m | 1 hr | Easy | April to October |
| Volo Bog Interpretive TrailIllinois | 0.7 km | flat | 8 min | Easy | April to October |
| Lake Geneva Shore PathWisconsin | 34.3 km | 755 m | 8 hr 52 min | Expert | April to October |
| Trout ParkIllinois | 0.8 km | 16 m | 11 min | Easy | April to October |
| Constance’s Story TrailIllinois | 0.6 km | flat | 7 min | Easy | April to October |
If you only have time for one, start with Lake Walk, Prairie View Trail, Red Paved Loop. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.
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